Marvel Denies Using AI to Create The Fantastic Four: First Steps Posters, Despite One of Them Appearing to Show a Man With 4 Fingers

Marvel has firmly denied using AI to create posters for The Fantastic Four: First Steps following fan speculation triggered by an image showing a man with seemingly only four fingers. The marketing campaign for the film, which included a teaser for its debut trailer and a series of posters released on social media, sparked this debate.

One particular poster caught fans' attention due to a man holding a large Fantastic Four flag who appears to be missing a finger. This led to speculation that generative AI might have been used in the poster's creation, with fans pointing out other anomalies like duplicated faces, misaligned gazes, and disproportionate limbs.

Four fingers for this Fantastic Four superfan? Image credit: Marvel Studios.

Despite these observations, a Disney/Marvel spokesperson confirmed to IGN that AI was not involved in the creation of these posters, suggesting the issues stem from another source. Some fans theorize that the missing finger might be hidden behind the flagpole, though this seems unlikely given the angles and sizes involved. Others believe it could be a simple error in the post-production process, possibly an oversight in Photoshop.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Trailer 1 Stills

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Disney/Marvel has not yet provided a direct explanation for the four-fingered man, leaving room for further speculation. Some suggest that repeated faces could be the result of a common digital trick used in post-production rather than AI.

This controversy is likely to increase scrutiny on future promotional materials for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. As fans await further developments, there is plenty more to explore about the film, including its features on characters like Galactus and Doctor Doom.